When thinking about sleeping instruments, hammocks would be the second most popular instruments right next to the beds. Hammocks are equally diverse in its history as well, being developed and used from places all over the world.
Hammocks are often made of of fabrics that gets suspended between two or more points. Unlike beds that has more fixed form, hammocks are more loose and can be set up on any places where it can be suspended. Due to its nature, it has been used(and still do) for setting of more temporary resting place.
European Adoption of Hammock
As a result of its simple construction, many different parts of the world have developed hammock on their own. First, remarks on hammock was made by Greek philosopher, Plutarch. However, hammock only reappeared on Europe after their interaction with the New World, where Native Americans of the West Indies used hammock for their primary instrument for sleeping.
After discovering(or perhaps re-discovering) hammock, European civilization adopted hammocks on naval usages mainly. Hammocks are easy to setup and takes small space either when it is folded or when it is deployed for use. Being very cost and space effective, European navies quickly adopted hammock for their ships that have very confined space to be allocated for beds.
Despite being widely adopted for navy purposes, hammocks were not popular among Europeans who preferred regular beds. Hammock was only deemed as bench or place for small naps, and it did not made to bed rooms of European population.
Rather, today in the Western World, hammocks are mainly used for temporary outdoor bench for resting or short naps. More rarely, hammocks are used for camping; it allows warmer sleeping area since hammocks are suspended away from the cold ground.
Recreational use of hammock
Winter camping with hammock
Hammocks in Americas
Hammocks were more popular in Americas than it was in Europe. After all, European adaptation of hammock was based off of hammocks Spanish traders got from the Native Americans of the West Indies. These Native Americans used hammock as their primary instrument for sleeping. For them, Hammock gave great protection against snakes, insects, and animals by being suspended from the ground. Also by being more open space, usage of hammock prevented larger outbreaks of pandemic among Native Americans.
Hammocks were also found in Mayan civilization and almost all places throughout the South America which they acquired by trading with Native Americans of the West Indies. Until the arrival of Western Civilization hammocks were the primary instrument for sleeping where even the poorest had hooks for hammock on their shelter.
Today, though, hammocks are still used, more South Americans have adopted regular beds under the strong Western Cultural influence.
Hammock being used as a temporary bed for a long boat ride
Hammocks in other parts of the world
There are some other instruments similar to hammock that was developed independently from other parts of the world. For example, India have small fabric hammock for children. Unlike regular hammock, it would be often hung from the ceiling in one point. As it is made with thin, woven fabric, it is known to be good in keeping children cool during hot summers of India.
Lunar Mission
One fun fact: hammock was what Apollo astronauts used to sleep on their way to moon. Another example of hammock shining the compact spaces.
